Football game board and projector



Aug. 6, 1957 2,801,853

J. LOMBARDO ETAL FOOTBALL GAME BOARD AND PROJECTOR Filed May 4, 1956 arm/WE) Unite States Patent Huntington, and Thomas Dunleavy, Queens Village, N. Y.

Application May 4, 1956, Serial No. 582,672

2 Claims. (Cl. 273*94) This invention relates to a game apparatus and particularly concerns an apparatus for playing a simulated football game.

The apparatus is provided with a rectangular baseboard which simulates a football field. A plurality of blocks are lined up to represent one team. An opposing team is provided with an elastic powered shooting device which shoots blocks of various sizes and weights. The latter blocks represent players carrying a football against the blocks representing the opposing team. Goal posts are provided to represent scoring positions for the advanced weighted blocks. Inclined ramps or wedges are provided to permit the advancing team to shoot a weighted block over the blocks representing the opposing team. The weighted block can be shot over the goal posts for a field goal, or can be used to knock down the double block for an attempted pass play. The shooting device may be provided with means for regulating the force of impact imparted to the weighted block to be advanced.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a simulated football game apparatus with means for advancing a weighted block against opposing blocks.

It is a further object to provide a game apparatus of the character described, with goal posts and means for shooting a weighted block over the posts.

It is also a further object to provide a game apparatus of the character described, with a double block target, and a means for shooting a Weighted block at the target.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying the invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views of shooting blocks of different sizes.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a block representing an opposing player.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a wedge or ramp for shooting a block over a goal post, or at a double block target.

Fig. 7 is a side view of a device for shooting a weighted block.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a weighted shooting block.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a magnet used in the device of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a plan sectional view of a portion of the shooting device.

In Fig. 1 the base 11 is a rectangular board marked with yardage lines 12. The lines may be numbered from zero to seventy or more by fives or tens in both directions. A plurality of cubical blocks 13 of some suitable material such as plastic or wood, are provided to represent one football team. Five or more such blocks are so provided. A pair of goal posts 14 are disposed at the zero yard lines for each team. A crossbar 16 is supported on each pair of posts 14. The posts may be sticks inserted in apertures in board 11. The crossbar may be a string tied to the top of each post.

A double block member 17 has a central shaft 19 and terminal cubical blocks 18. Member 17 represents a player and serves as a target for determining result of passing play as will be described hereafter. A tapered plastic wedge 21 serves as a ramp simulating passing and kicking play. This wedge has a slanted side 24 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Block 22 is a weighted cubical member with a slanted side 23 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Blocks 22' and 22" in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, are larger and heavier. Block 13 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 is a cube of plastic, wood or the like.

A plunger or elastic shooting device indicated generally at 26 is provided to propel and advance the block 22. This device has a rectangular base 27 near the front of which are upstanding pins 32. Attached at one end to the pins 32 are two elastic bands 28. These bands are tied at their other ends to a crosspiece 31 which has an attached centrally disposed handle 29 to be gripped by the fingers of a player. To propel or advance a block 22, 22' or 22, the block is placed on base 27 and the handle 29 is drawn back against the tension in bands 28. When the handle is released, the c'rosspiece 31 strikes the block 22 propelling it forward, with some force, in the direction indicated by arrow 33.

In Figs. 7-12 there is shown a modification of the invention in which block 22 has a plate 34 secured at the rear thereof in any suitable manner. This plate is made of a permanent magnetizable metal, such as steel. The plate serves as a weight for the block and also as a means of magnetically withdrawing the block any desired distance rearwardly on base 27. An L-shaped permanent magnet 36 in the form of a right-angle bar has a forwardly extending portion A and an upstanding portion B. The magnet is loosely and movably mounted in a slot or passage 37 extending through crosspiece 31 and handle 29.

In the forward position of the magnet 36, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, plate 34 of block 22 is contacted by the forward end of portion A of the magnet, and portion B extends upwardly out of slot 37. Thus, handle 29 can be grasped by the fingers of a player and be drawn backwa-rdly as indicated by arrow 39. To release the block, the magnet may be drawn back in slot 37 by finger pressure on portion B. When the portion B reaches the recess 41, it is turned down and lodged in the recess as shown in Fig. 11. Then the handle can be drawn back still further while the block 22 remains in the desired position on base 27.

This arrangement is desired in order that the player may position the block 22 and select the desired tension in bands 28, with a single hand rnovernent. The free hand of the player will hold the base 27 from movement. A pair of holes 42 are provided in the ends of crosspiece 31 through which the bands 28 pass and are anchored thereon by discs 43 secured to their ends.

To play the game, five blocks 13 representing linemen are arrayed ahead of the elastic shooter 26 and one block 13, representing a backup man, is disposed behind the linemen. Goal posts 14 are erected.

The advancing team consists of the shooter 26, and three blocks 22, 22, 22" of various weights. The opposing team consists of six blocks 13, of which five blocks 13 are arrayed ahead of and facing plunger 26 as linemen, and one block 13' is disposed behind the linemen as a backup man, as above mentioned. A kicker constituting members 29, 31 is mounted on base 27 as part of shooter 26.

The object of the game is for the team or player having. the elasticshooter 26 to advance the weighed block against .the opposing blocks by a series of four plays. A-playerhas the option of either executing a running play or a passing play at each attempt. In executing a running play, one of the three blocks 22, 22' or 22" is placed in front of the kicker as a runner.

The team or player having the elastic shooter, shoots a block 22, 22 or 22 against the opposing blocks, 13, 13'. After each block is shot, the base 27 of shooter 26 is moved up to the particular yard line 12 where the advanced block stops and the next or the same block is shot again. After each shot or play, the opposing player regroups his team of linemen 13 to resist the advancing runner block 22, 22 or 22". In executing a passing play, the double block target 17 is placed an arbitrary distance behind the blocks 13 representing the opposing teams linemen. The ramp 21 is placed several inches in front of the linemen and the base 27 is placed in front of the ramp. Then the elastic shooter constituting the members 29, 31 is aimed to shoot a block 22 up the ramp 21 and at the double block target 17. If the block 22, 22 or 22" knocks over the double block target, additional ground is gained. After a combination of four plays, the team or players completely exchange pieces and play resumes with the opposing player advancing the weighted block in the reverse direction.

If a player advances a runner 22, 22 or 22" past the goal posts 14, a touchdown is secured. Then the ramp 21 is placed in action for a field goal. The ramp is placed at about the twenty yard line of the opposing team and the base 27 is placed at about the forty yard line.

Then the elastic shooter 29, 31 is aimed to shoot a block 22, 22' or 22" up the ramp 21 and over the crossbar 16 of the goal posts. If the advancing player succeeds in thus scoring a field goal additional points are scored by him.

To increase the resistance to movement of opposing linemen 13 and 13 friction members such as rubber pads 47 may be attached to the bottoms of the blocks. Similar 1. A game apparatus comprising a rectangular-shaped board with spaced numbered lines on its upper surface simulating a football field, goal posts at both ends of the lined area thereon, blocks representing players of opposing teams movably mounted on the board, intermediate said ends, a double-headed progress-indicating target representing a player movably mounted on the board between the blocks and the goal posts at one end of the lined area, a weighted wedge-shaped ramp block mounted on the board, and a slingshot device movably mounted on the board for propelling one of said blocks against and over a surface of the ramp block and against the target during the progress of the game.

2. In a game apparatus adapted to closely simulate an outdoor game such as football and having a substantially planar surface portion whose upper side represents a typical playing field, and blocks representing offensive and defensive players operably positioned on the upper sideof said planar surface portion for movement therealong and thereover, the blocks representing the offensive players having permanent magnetic portions on the surfaces thereof, the combination of a slingshot actuating device for moving the offensive playing blocks, said device including a base portion movably mounted on the upper surface of .said planar surface portion, a T-shaped member slidably mountedon said base portion, means for sliding said member over the surface of the base portion including elastic members having one end fixed to the base portion and the other end to the ends of the crosspiece of said T-shaped member, said T-shaped member having a slot extending centrally therethrough and through the crosspiece, an L-shaped permanent magnetic bar movably mounted in said slot and projecting through the opening in the crosspiece for attracting one of the blocks representing an offensive player mounted on the base portion adjacent said crosspiece whereby said latter block is adapted to be moved backwardly by said magnet upon movement of the T-shaped member in one direcfriction pads 46, 46' may be attached to the bottom of ramp 21 and also to base 27, respectively.

The double block target 17 can have printed information on four sides of each block 18 which would determine the amount of yardage gained in a passing play according to the position With which the block 18 rests on the rectangular baseboard 11 when it is knocked over by the weighted block.

While We have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed'and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

tion and to be propelled forwardly by said crosspiece against the blocks representing the defensive players upon movement of the T-shaped member in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

